2009 Ravens Yearbook = Brady...what the heck?

[Raven808]

Ok, I am a hardcore Ravens fan that lives out on the west coast, specifically Washington State. I don't get the pleasure of living near inner harbor and being around other Raven fans instead I have all of these damn Hawks fans everywhere, but that's another story...

One of the pleasures I get is receiving the annual Ravens Yearbook and while looking through the 2009 edition what do I see on one of the first few pages? A full page ad with TOM BRADY! Hello, TOM BRADY! Not quite sure who is in charge of sales over there, but that person needs to be fired or at least pointed out on the jumbotron during one of the games as being an idiot.

Anyway, I signed up just to post this because it's pretty disgusting, I'd rip out the page, but there are coach profiles on the other side.

What do you guys think? Am I being irrational?

[Ravenglenn]

I agree someone messed up big time.

[theFRANCHISE]

It's just ONE player. A player that has a very limited history with the Ravens; Brady has only played the Ravens TWICE in his career. What's the big deal? Besides, I'm not sure if the Ravens organization necessarily has control over every ad chosen, just as they don't have complete control over every ad on the Ravens website.

[Raven808]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='19 August 2009 - 12:21 AM' timestamp='1250655666' post='221099']
It's just ONE player. A player that has a very limited history with the Ravens; Brady has only played the Ravens TWICE in his career. What's the big deal? Besides, I'm not sure if the Ravens organization necessarily has control over every ad chosen, just as they don't have complete control over every ad on the Ravens website.
[/quote]

No opposing teams should be represented in OUR Ravens Yearbook...period! Ravens should have control over the ads they place in anything associated with the Ravens name...you don't see porn ads on br.com right? Somewhere someone screwed up from a fan's perspective.

I agree with you that it's just one player and his history with Ravens may be short lived, but c'mon...seeing Brady just got my blood going!

It could also be the fact that I don't like Brady, but really would you be ok with Big Ben up in there?

[darklight1216]

[quote name='Raven808' date='19 August 2009 - 01:02 AM' timestamp='1250658166' post='221101']
It could also be the fact that I don't like Brady, but really would you be ok with Big Ben up in there?
[/quote]
If it's a pic from 2006 maybe...

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Raven808' date='19 August 2009 - 01:02 AM' timestamp='1250658166' post='221101']
No opposing teams should be represented in OUR Ravens Yearbook...period! Ravens should have control over the ads they place in anything associated with the Ravens name...you don't see porn ads on br.com right? Somewhere someone screwed up from a fan's perspective.

I agree with you that it's just one player and his history with Ravens may be short lived, but c'mon...seeing Brady just got my blood going!

It could also be the fact that I don't like Brady, but really would you be ok with Big Ben up in there?
[/quote]
Point taken, but you have to consider the product the ad is promoting itself. Is the ad specifically promoting the New England Patriots, or is it promoting the NFL brand? I understand that the yearbook itself is a Ravens-brand product, but if the ad is promoting the NFL umbrella under which the Ravens falls, then it's no different than the NFL Reebok ad with Santonio Holmes and Reggie Wayne on BR.com -- as well as the Eagles' website, Redskins' website, and all 32 teams' websites.

Again, I understand that you may dislike Tom Brady, but him being in an NFL ad is different than him being in an ad specifically promoting the Patriots. It's just the way marketing works; Tom Brady is a marketable name, so of course his likeness will be used across all NFL brands -- including other teams' yearbooks. Could they have gotten another player, specifically a Raven? Sure. But there's deadlines to be had and marketing to consider. Sometimes, these things are out of people's hands.

Just let it go...it'll be OK. Your team yearbook today is still as good as it was yesterday with the ad.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='19 August 2009 - 07:04 PM' timestamp='1250661841' post='221107']
Point taken, but you have to consider the product the ad is promoting itself. Is the ad specifically promoting the New England Patriots, or is it promoting the NFL brand? I understand that the yearbook itself is a Ravens-brand product, but if the ad is promoting the NFL umbrella under which the Ravens falls, then it's no different than the NFL Reebok ad with Santonio Holmes and Reggie Wayne on BR.com -- as well as the Eagles' website, Redskins' website, and all 32 teams' websites.

Again, I understand that you may dislike Tom Brady, but him being in an NFL ad is different than him being in an ad specifically promoting the Patriots. It's just the way marketing works; Tom Brady is a marketable name, so of course his likeness will be used across all NFL brands -- including other teams' yearbooks. Could they have gotten another player, specifically a Raven? Sure. But there's deadlines to be had and marketing to consider. Sometimes, these things are out of people's hands.

Just let it go...it'll be OK. Your team yearbook today is still as good as it was yesterday with the ad.
[/quote]
Exactly, and if the yearbook is under the NFL umbrella so to speak, I'm by no means surprised to see Brady in there. Ravens fan or not, Brady generates interest in the league. I'd say you're over-reacting a tad, why does an advert matter that much?

[Guest RBates]

This is the NFL and they love there Tom BRady's

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='RBates' date='19 August 2009 - 09:34 PM' timestamp='1250670876' post='221127']
This is the NFL and they love there Tom BRady's
[/quote]
Pretty much, he's the pin-up boy of the league.

[jfc13]

Put a positive spin on it: someone paid big bucks to get Brady's picture in a Ravens' yearbook.

Ravens players? Free.

[J-man]

I saw the ad.

I'm going to keep it in their because it has Tom Brady in really flamboyant poses. It juust perfectly with his personality.

[Raven808]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='19 August 2009 - 02:04 AM' timestamp='1250661841' post='221107']
Point taken, but you have to consider the product the ad is promoting itself. Is the ad specifically promoting the New England Patriots, or is it promoting the NFL brand? I understand that the yearbook itself is a Ravens-brand product, but if the ad is promoting the NFL umbrella under which the Ravens falls, then it's no different than the NFL Reebok ad with Santonio Holmes and Reggie Wayne on BR.com -- as well as the Eagles' website, Redskins' website, and all 32 teams' websites.

Again, I understand that you may dislike Tom Brady, but him being in an NFL ad is different than him being in an ad specifically promoting the Patriots. It's just the way marketing works; Tom Brady is a marketable name, so of course his likeness will be used across all NFL brands -- including other teams' yearbooks. Could they have gotten another player, specifically a Raven? Sure. But there's deadlines to be had and marketing to consider. Sometimes, these things are out of people's hands.

Just let it go...it'll be OK. Your team yearbook today is still as good as it was yesterday with the ad.
[/quote]

I am in the advertising industry, so I might be a little oversensitive to ads, but I would agree with you if it were any other type of sport publication (i.e. Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, etc.).

I view a teams yearbook as being similar to a game day program...something used to hype a teams supporters. The last thing I want to see is an opposing teams player in there. Yes, we can blame the umbrella of the NFL placing whatever ads they want wherever, but someone should be sensitive to this. Brady is the poster child for the NFL, but really what is the target readership for this yearbook? Not sports fans in general, but Ravens fans.

Anyway, thought this post would generate some discussion and it looks like it has, I'll let it drop because ultimately when we win the Superbowl this year it won't matter who was in the yearbook....GO RAVENS!